Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-02-10
LOUIE AND I.

If | had been the least bit pretty |
shouldn't have been surprised at it all ;
or if hac even been bright and witty;
but such a little simple simpleton as
I?
I never in all my life had the least
expectation of lovers, or of any sort of
admiring glances and | never had
any. Ald sometimes mother used to
say she guessed 1t was just as we'll for
if she had to dress two girls out for
their pretty looks, as she did one. it
would have beggared her. Mother on
ly had little money just barely enough
to live on, and some of the principal
going every year /; but it wouldn't have
been in human nature, haying dangh-
ter as pretty as Louie, not to want her
10 nave The best That would set of t,"-
peach Livuuu uUauUy ana Tor my P1ruT
| never grudged Louie a rose or rib
bon. couldn't have worn them 4; for
I was far too proud to try to do what
nature hadn't, or to pretend | thought
such things became me and l liked
my print dresses and plain collars bet
ter for myself.
But when Louie was dressed in her
muslns till she looked like one or the
old fashioned blush roses, so white
without an d so delicately flushed with
in. her lovely yellow hair breaking out
in sunny curls all over her head. aud
she all radiant, as you might say, with
her skin, her teeth, her great
blue. beaming eyes-then | used to ike
to look at her as much as any Of her 10y
ers did. look at her as | would at any
lovely picture and she always turned
from her gayest scene, the dear little
person, to give her sweetest smile 10
me.
So wien Dennis began all at once to
come TO our house. as if he had just
seen Louie for the first time in his life, L
was only delighted. For every one that
knew him loved and honored Dennis
Reed, who was the soul of all integrity
and if lie wasn't beauty himself, he
Was a stalwart son of Saul, and had the
incest little place in the region, a cot
tage up a lane, oyer looking the river,
and with a woods behind it's orchard
and across the railway cut to keep Off
the east wind, if the east wind could
eyer blow in that sunny nook, with
garden spot made and blooming lr
every Granny of the rocks around it.
But my first thought was none o.
that, only that liked Dennis Reed 81
much | liked to have him feel how
lovely Louie was l liked to have hin
come TO see her | liked to think he
az safe with such sweet, strong sou
as I fancied his to be and last of all,
thought how pleasant was the home n
had to give her, and it pleased me tt
place Louie there, in my thoughts,
mong Ill the rocks and flowers, lookln
out upon the river.
Not that it made any odds to Denni
what thought about it all. doubt
in those days he knew any more tina
that existed, going his happy wa
with his head in the clouds, and eye
and heart only for lis love.
So he married her and took h er ava.
and a happier nest of singing birt
than that in the cottage among tt
rocks and flowers could nowhere hav
been found. unless it we're in my ow
heart, at the sight of the happines
there.
But then mother fell sick, and
took all my time to care for her and
couldn't go up to Louie's very ofte
for I had every thing to do at hon
and was tired out by nightfall and
ten up half the night besides. Lou
couldn't very well come down OFT
and if she had come she wouldn't ha